So, I've got 3 car trades ahead of me.

1) My cousin is moving here to live with my elderly mother. I need to lease a comfortable, solid car for the two of them to ride around in. It must be reliable because my cousin will never take it to the shop for service. I'm thinking Civic or Accord. Any other suggestions?

2) My S5 lease is up in December. I would love to lease another Audi, but the lease rates are ridiculous. In fact, the lease payment on an A6 is higher than the finance payment. As many have said, Audis don't lease well. I'm paying $975 per month for 2 years on my S5. I am looking for a more practical but equally fast car. Most likely a sedan or SUV with a great service department. (That takes Jeep, Hyundai, Kia and Mazda out of the picture.) I'm thinking of going back to a GS350, but is the Infiniti Q70 really that bad? It looks really nice with the changes. I'm also thinking Jaguar XE or MB C450 AMG Sport.

3) Our G37 Vert lease is up in June. I guess I don't need to worry about that one right now. We will probably replace it with an S5 Cab (purchased, not leased).

I know I have a lot of test driving ahead of me, but as always any input about personal experience, performance, reliability, etc. is appreciated.

 

1) Can't go wrong with Civic/Accord or Corrolla/Camry for reliability - get one that leases cheaper.

2) Get the BMW M4 end of story! the car is MUCH nicer than S5 - more performance, tech, and most of all FUN!
Leases are much better than Audi. 2nd Option would be RCF.
3) If you don't get the M4, at least get the new 440i Conv.

 

1. I would go for a HRV, CRV, or RAV4. Easy for elderly to get in and out.

2. Q70 is nice but so outdated. The GS350 is ugly IMO. BMW is throwing out crazy lease deals on the F10 as the they prepare for the new generation to come in. You don't like MB's...wanna get weird and try to see if Jag will haggle with you on an XF? Not my cup of tea but it might be a new experience for you. I would push for a Porsche Macan personally.

 

I feel bad Audis lease so bad lately. They are fine cars. While I know Audi is trying to preserve resale value, I don't think it's a wise move to do what they are doing. Nearly all their competitors have had low leases for a good dozen years, and I've yet to see any negative effects from that. Just more people leasing those cars.

If I were in the pool right now, I'd be looking at Accords and RAV4's. They are modern, roomy, reliable cars that offer most things well. For something with a little more panache, the BMW 3-series and Lexis IS200t are also smart choices, thanks to those low lease numbers.

 

One thing, though, with the new BMW 3-series......don't expect them to drive like they used to. They simply don't have the same chassis and steering systems any more.

Civic and Accord reliability is obvious, but there are many other reliable cars in that category.......Corolla, Camry, Mazda3, Mazda6, etc.... Subarus tend to be quite reliable overall, and come with standard AWD for bad weather, but long-term engine reliability has been spotty on some models.

A lower-line nameplate does not necessarily mean a crap service department. My brother, for instance, owns a Kia Sportage, and the local service department treats their customers like kings. In his case, though, the dealership's owner is also a Member of Congress.

The Q70 seems like a potentially good suggestion...and lease rates shouldn't be too bad. The reliability of some Nissan/Infiniti products has suffered from French Renault ownership, but, according to Consumer Reports, The Q70 has had average reliability overall.....not bad. (at least not in the lemon category LOL).

 

>>>Altima. Hands down. Drive it and you will know what I mean.

Great service dept - as in staffed with hot chicks or free food or free wifi or....??

 

I'm with TangoRed--I think you want something with better ground clearance. Mazda CX-3, Kia Soul, Honda HR-V if you want to minimize costs.

I don't lease, but I know that BMW lease rates are pretty good. 340i, or 435i if you want to stay with a 2 door, or a 435i Gran Coupe if you want to blend them (the 340 will have more HP, but depending on your timing, the 435 is becoming the 440 with the higher HP rating; though; none as much as the S5). The current GS has been out for a while now, and me, personally, I just don't love any of the current Infinitis.

435i/440i convertible?

 

Accord, Camry, Mazda 6 etc..you can't make a mistake with these marquees.
After getting bored with my S5, I chose between the RC-F and M4/3. In the end, I just could not resist the very good deals on RC-Fs despite being marginally lesser in terms of performance.. M4/3s are great cars but not not for me. I will let the euro snobs have them..

 

I'll second this. If an SUV is an option (and really, the Macan isn't very SUV like) then it's definitely worth a look. The XE may be good to check out, and it apparently drives very well, but if I remember correctly the interior is a bit of a letdown. If I was shopping for a sedan it would certainly be on my list however and if they ever make a coupe version I'll probably end up getting one myself.

As for the car for your mother, I will also suggest checking out the smaller crossovers as they may be easier to get in and out of than a traditional sedan.

 

We have a friend who had to make a decision like the one for your cousin. She chose the KIA Soul and loves it. Easy to drive and park and very easy to see out of. It is just a bit higher seating position than a sedan so she doesn't have to climb up to get in. Even loaded, it was in the low $20K price range. I personally really like the new Civic and prefer it to the Accord.

To replace your Audi, you should check out the latest version of the Q50. Even with the milder version of the 3.0t engine it is quick and the Red S is a bullet. To make these cars live up to their potential, the tires must be replaced. The run-flats that are standard are stiff riding and lack traction to match the cars capability. Since they come with an optional spare anyway, switch to better tires when new. Sometime this summer, the new Q60 coupe is coming. The concept looks great and if you don't need a back seat it might be a good Audi replacement.

When most of us talk about performance coupes and convertibles, we think German or Japanese. The new Mustang will surprise you. Much improved interior, much better ride, and good handling. The V-8 GT is less than $40,000.
Steve

 

Check out the new E-class Benz, looks like a great car IMO and they should have plenty in stock of the new model if your lease is up in December. Granted it is a LUXURY car, so its going to be rather boring and softer than your S5 coupe.

The GS350 is really nice as well, although it has been out for a few years now. The Infiniti Q50 with the 400hp twin turbo six would be a fun rocket ship, provided you can get one with the base model car's hydraulic steering rack and not the awful feeling optional electric drive by wire steering.


As for the car for your cousin and mother, take your mom car shopping. Buy her whatever she likes and can easily get in/out of. Keep in mind some SUV's have running boards/wide door sills that make them tricky to get in/out of. Even though the seat is at chair height and you'd think its easier to get in/out of than a sedan, you have to hop over the sill and/or running board.

 

Saw a new C450 today it was beautiful.
Checked out a few new E-classes in person and they are really nice from inside even with MB-Tex. Handsome but very understated styling and certainly not fun to drive.
How about a 4-series Gran Coupe? Those are sexy.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. One down... leased a '16 Accord today. Was very surprised at the great performance of the 4 cylinder, and it actually felt more tossable than the V6 I drove. $309 per month for 30 months, with $2500 down. A lot of car for the money. Heck, when I get rid of my S5 and lease something with reasonable lease payments that should make up the difference.

Great deal for a car that looks nice, has great fit/finish, is reliable and has the latest tech like Apple Carplay. I sent the pics to my cousin and she loves it.

Next will be the replacement for my S5. Not sure yet, but you've all given me something to think about. All are great options and I will be doing a lot of research and test driving!

 

for your car, indeed audi lease is horrible. that's mostly why our next car likely won't be audi, as much as i like the s7. for you, you can lease a m3/m4 for less and i think those cars are very practical. if you have to do sedan, i think you can lease a 550 for less as well and again very fast and nice car. e class probably will be on the expensive side. is the gs350 lease coming down again? unless you can get the old deals like 13-15 personally i wouldn't get it.

 

The Q70 is nowhere near as refined or as good a chassis as the GS, and the technology is so incredibly outdated its unbelievable.